Method for fitting shoes to feet



y D. F. HYLAND ETAL 2,323,539

METHOD FOR FITTING SHOES TO FEET Original Filed July 8, 1940 SSheets-Sheet 1 x24 /23 m enrms 8 ,Dam/ F QD/ana John. G 57772.5

7 0 f/gga L Brenner 1 John ,Brennen July 6, 1943- D. F. HYLAND ETAL2,323,539

METHOD FOR FITTING SHOES TO FEET Original Filed July 8, 1940 sSheets-Sheet 2 METHOD FOR FITTING SHOES TO FEET Original Filed July 8,1940 SSheets-Sheet s nil Patented July 6, 1943 METHOD FOR FITTING SHOEST FEET Daniel F. Hyland, John C. Stiles, Hugo L. Brenner, and JohnBrenner, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Arch-O-Graph Company, St. Louis,Mo., a corporation of Missouri Original application July 8, 1940, SerialNo. 344,458. Divided and this application June 12, 1941, Serial No.397,702

18 Claims.

This invention relates to orthopedics and is concerned particularly withmethods for fitting shoes to the feet of the wearer. This application isa division of application Serial No. 344,458, filed July 8, 1940.

As is well-known, it is impossible to manufacture shoes on standardlasts and expect them to fit all human feet of that particular size withany degree of accuracy. No two pairs of feet are alike, and, in fact, itis very rare that a pair of feet are exact mates. There is so muchvariation in the shape of different feet of the same approximate sizethat it is the exception rather than the rule that a standard shoe ofthe proper size is a perfect or even a comfortable fit.

The principal difficulty arises from the variation of the shape of theplantar surface of the foot. This surface is determined largely by theshape of the arch, and arches vary greatly in height and also in theirlateral characteristics.

It is also true that shoes, even when manufactured to the same last, areby no means uniform in the shape of the foot supporting surface of thesole. And shoes of the same size made on different lasts vary from eachother to a still greater extent. Accordingly, when such shoes are wornwithout correction, the foot must adjust itself to the shape of theshoe, and this often requires distortion of the normal position of thefoot to such an extent as to cause serious discomfort.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a methodwhereby a foot of any form may have fitted to it a shoe built upon anylast and, particularly, shoes built upon standard lasts in the usualprocesses of manufacture.

Another object is to provide a method whereby a foot, even though it maybe defective in its shape or form due to deformation from any cause, mayhave fitted to it any particular shoe in such a manner as to provide acomfortable fit such that the weight of the wearer is properlydistributed without discomfort.

Another object is to provide a method whereby a lift may be formed tosuch form as to occupy with a considerable degree of exactness thedifference between the shape of the inside sole surface of the shoe andthe plantar surface of the foot so as to support the latter in a normaland comfortable position.

Another object is to provide a method whereby such a lift may be formedby taking off the engaging surfaces of the foot and shoe sole with ahigh degree of accuracy so that the corresponding surface of the liftwill fit accurately the sole surface of the foot and theshoe.

Another object is to provide a method whereby a lift may be formed bymeans operating upon both surfaces thereof and accurately guided inaccordance with the form of the model and of the sole surface of theshoe, so as to produce a lift having a thickness .at any point thereofcorresponding to the difference at that point between the height of themodel surface and the height of the inside sole surface of the shoe.

Another object is to provide a method whereby a lift may be formed bymeans guided in accordance with th variations in the surfaces of themodel and the :shoe sole and those variations applied differentially tothe same surface of the lift-blank in forming the same.

The invention thu brings a solution of the problem of accurately forminga lift so dimensioned as to occupy the space representing the differencebetween the foot and the shoe so as to support the foot in a normalposition, whatever may be the form of the inside sole surface of theshoe.

Further objects will appear from the following description of oneembodiment of the invention selected for illustration and explanationtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device for taking off a model of the soleof the foot in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the contour elements;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus for transferrin the form set upon the contour devices and the inside sole surface of the shoe to thelift-blank to form the latter to correspond to said contour and the shoesurface.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus On line4-'4 of Figure 3, showing the former arm and its relation to the blank;

Figure 5 is a view to a reducedscale similar to Figure 4, illustratinganother apparatus for carrying out the process of this invention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, illustrating still another formof apparatus adapted for that purpose.

In accordance with the process of thi invention, a model is taken offthe plantar surface of the foot, preferably in its normal position. Thismay be done by means of apparatus which will be described hereinafter,in which a series of shiftable elements are moved into engagement withthe foot surface. This may be done by hand, or otherwise, so that thedegree of pressure applied in engaging the element with the foot may beregulated with the necessary skill. When all these elements havebeenengaged with the foot surface, they are clamped in shifted position soas to form collectively a model of the foot surface. This model is thenplaced in suitable apparatus,an embodiment of Which will also bdescribed hereinafter. The shoe which is to be worn on the foot fromwhich the model was taken is also placed in the machine in adjustedposition. A lift-blank is placed in a holder suitably related to themachine. One or more forming tools are then brought to operate upon thelift. Certain of these tools operate upon one surface of the lift-blank,and these are guided by means of suitable mechanical connections, whichwill be described, in accordance with the shape of the model which hasbeen taken from the foot surface. By this is meant that the move ment ofthe tool is regulated to follow the contour of the model at every pointof the lift face corresponding to a given point on the model and,therefore, on the foot surface. By passing such a forming tool so guidedover the complete face of the lift, the latter is formed to a shapecorresponding to that of the model.

In accordance with this invention, the opposite face of the lift blankmay also be operated upon in accordance with the shape of the insidesole surface of the shoe. This operation may be a forming operationsimilar to that just described for the first surface. It has been foundadvantageous, however, instead of cutting or forming the oppositesurface, to simply move this surface in accordance with the height ofthe inside sole surface of the shoe at each point thereof, so thatinstead of reproducing on the opposite surface the variations in theform of a shoe sole, these variations are superimposed upon those of thefoot model, and the total variation is reproduced in the form of thefirst face of the lift. Accordingly, the total thickness of theresulting lift at any given point thereof will correspond to thedifference at the corresponding point of the sole between the height ofthe model surface and the height of the inside sole surface of the shoe.

In this description and the appended claims, the term height of themodel, or model surface, refers to the height of that surface above anyselected datum plane therebelow, and similarly the height of the solsurface of the shoe refers to the height of that surface above the samedatum plane.

In accordance with this method, therefore, the

blank may be formed by operating on one face thereof, say the upperface, by means of a cutting Y may be mounted a resilient pad. This padis preferably made very soft, so that it is easily compressed by thepressure of the foot while taking the impression. A type of pad whichhas been found satisfactory for this purpose is a pad usuallyconstructed of sponge rubber which has been used for mattresses, seatcushions, and the like. However, the pads used for these purposes areusually a little too stiff. Accordingly, it is preferable to have suchpads made up so as to provide greater yieldability.

Mounted upright in the box I and so as to rest upon the top surface ofthe pad is a series of contour-forming elements 5. These elements may beof any desired form. It has, however, been found preferable to make themrectangular with their upper ends rounded off, as shown in Figure 2.Their lower ends may also be rounded. It has been found convenient toform these elements with a square cross section at about oneeighth inchon the side and to assemble a great many of them in mutual contact withone another so as to fill the entire upper rim of the box I. When soassembled the upper ends of all these pins form a surface having thesame contour as the upper surface of the pad. Howeve any element orgroup of elements may be depressed a by the pressure of a foot solethereon against the resiliency of the pad, and when so depressed theupper ends will take the contour of the plantar surface of the foot.

Where the lift is intended for foot correction, as in cases ofpronation, pads of different degrees of stiffness may be provided sothat the elements 6 may be applied to the sole under a pressure adjustedin accordance with the degree of correction desired.

Figure 1 shows a carrier l8 which may be provided with rollers [9 formoving it along the floor, and, if desired, a stop or brake operated bya pedal, not shown. This carrier is provided with two compartments, eachof which is arranged to accommodate one of the contour devices, only oneof which is shown in Figure 1. Each compartment is provided with a pairof rails 24 which may be set at an inclination, as shown in Figure 1 soas to position the top surface of the contour elements 6 in a convenientposition for engagement by the feet to be fitted. Each contour devicemay be placed upon a pair of rails 24 by resting the heads of clampingscrew I l on said rails and against a suitable stop which locates saidscrew heads each in a position to be engaged by a manipulating element26 having its inner end formed to engage the head of the screw H foroperating the latter to clamp th contour elements. These devices 25 arearranged to slide in and out so that when the contour elements have beenclamped the manipulating devices may be pulled out to release them fromthe screw heads and permit the contour devices to be lifted out of thecarrier i8. When so removed from the carrier the contour devices willthen be securely locked so as to retain a foot impression made therein.

When the foot impression has been taken, each of the contour devices inturn, together with the shoe to which the lift is to be fitted, areplaced in the apparatus whose function is to transfer the contour of thefoot sole from the contour device or model and the contour of the insidesole of the shoe to the lift-blank in order to form the latter to avariable thickness according to the difference between the foot sole andthe shoe sole at every point thereof. The lift so formed may then beplaced in the shoe and a perfect fit insured.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, this apparatus is supported by andhoused in a frame or casing 23. In the forward part of this apparatus,which is the lower part in Figure 3, there is provided a receivingopening or socket 29 to receive the contour device. Properly locatedwithin the opening 29 is a pair of rails 38 upon which the contourdevice may be supported by resting the heads of the screws ll upon theserails in substantially the same manner in which the contour device wassupported on the rails 24 of the carrier l8. One of the rails 30 may beprovided with a stop 34 formed to provide a spring catch adapted to gripand hold the screw head I I when engaged therewith. When the contourdevice has been set upon the rails and moved back so as to be secured bythe catch 34, it is in position for the operation of transferring itscontour to the lift-blank.

In the forward middle portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 a shoeholder is provided. This is constructed so as to be capable of receivingand securing a shoe of any type or size in proper relation to thecontour device mounted in the socket 29.

The shoe holder comprises a heel plate against which the heel of theshoe is placed as indicated in Figure 3. A pair of side heel rests 36 isprovided between which the heel of the shoe may be grasped. In Figure 3the position of the shoe is indicated in dotted lines, a right shoebeing indicated. For a right shoe the heel is moved against theleft-hand side plate 36, as shown in Figure 3. These heel plates 36 areformed upon arms pivoted and tensioned by springs to hold each armeither in its extreme side position, as shown by the left-hand plate inFigure 3, or in the position shown in dotted lines for the right-handplate in Figure 3, where the spring operates to press that side plateagainst the heel of the shoe to force the heel against the other sideplate. By this arrangement the heel of the shoe is definitely located inits lateral position.

A horizontal heel support is provided in the form of a bar 39 supportedupon a pair of arms 40 pivoted on the support 28. The arms 4!] arespring-tensioned, tending to retract the bar 39 toward the front of themachine. The arms 40 are also resiliently supported by vertical springs.The bar 39 is adapted to support the heel of the shoe at a properelevation when clamped between the side plates 36. The bar may be soplaced as to bear against the bottom of an ordinary heel, or, in thecase of a ladys high heel, it may be placed forwardly of the breast ofthe heel. Such a position is chosen as will place the average level ofthe inside sole surface of the shoe substantially in a horizontal plane.

The forward part of the shoe is arranged to rest upon a sole support inthe form of a horizontal bar 44 arranged for vertical adjustment bybeing supported upon a pair of side arms 45 pivoted at 46 and eachprovided with an upright bracket in which an adjusting screw 48 isthreaded. The lower end of the screw 48 rests upon a bracket 49, whichalso carries the pivot 46 and which is slidable longitudinally of theframe 28 upon rails, not shown. By this arrangement the support 44 maybe placed at any desired point along the shoe and raised to any desiredelevation in order to level the average plane of the inside solesurface.

In the embodiment illustrated a toe strap 5i is provided which may bepassed over the toe' of the shoe to hold the same down upon the support44. A pair of side stops 53 is also provided for the forward part of theshoe. These may be arranged to slide upon the bar 44 and to be clampedthereon so as to be adjustable to any size shoe. These stops arepreferably arranged so that when in their extreme side positions theyare so positioned as to locate properly the inside line of any right orleft shoe, respectively. By inside line is meant a line joining theinside -sur faces of the heel and toe, as indicated by the line A-B inFigure 3. This line is determined for right and left shoes,respectively, by the shoe engaging surfaces 'of the plate 36 and-thestop 53 on the proper side when each is moved to its extreme position. 7

In the right-handside of the apparatus, shown in Figure 3, means areprovided for holding a lift-blank which is to be formed in accordancewith the foot contour and the shoe contour. This supporting device isalso illustrated in Figure 4. A vertically movable table 54 is supportedupon a pair of arms 55 pivoted at 56 in the extreme rear portion of theframe 28. This mounting permits the table 54 toswing vertically on thepivot 56,

and as said pivot is located at a considerable distance from the table,the rise and fall will be practically a straight line movement with theforward portion of the table moving only slightly more than the rearportion. The means for imparting and controlling the vertical movementwill be more fully explained hereinafter. A blank holder 51 is removablymounted upon the table 54.

The mechanism for transferring the contours of the model and the shoesole to the blank is shown generally in Figures 3 and 4. A carriage 58is arranged for longitudinal movement on the frame 28 by rolling uponrails 59. This movement is maintained in parallel relation by a pair ofpinions 60 carried by a cross-shaft 6i suitably journaled in thecarriage 53, said pinions meshing with racks 62 on the undersides of therails 59, one of said racks being shown in Figure 4. Mounted on thecarriage '58 for movement transversely of the frame 28 ar three arms.For the sake of distinguishing between them in this description and theappended claims, these will be designated a follower-arm 63, a stylusarm 64, and a former-arm 65. The arm E3 carries a follower 56 arrangedfor engagement with the contour or model set up in the contour devicemounted in the socket 29. The arm 64 carries a stylus 6! arranged forengagement with the inside sole surface of a shoe in the shoe holder.The arm 65 carries a forming tool which in the embodiment illustrated isin the form of a rotary cutter 68 and having operating means in the formof a motor 69. The functions and operation of the follower 66 and thestylus 51 are very similar. They are called by these different names inthis description for the purpose of distinguishing between them.

Suitably journaled in the carriage 58 is aholloW shaft 10. Mounted nearthe left-hand end, Figure 3, of the shaft 10 and keyed thereto is abracket 7 I. This bracket carries an upright pivot shaft i2, upon whichthe hub 13 of the stylus arm 64 is pivoted. By this connection raisingand lowering the arm 64 will rotate the hollow shaft 10. Mounted at theright-hand end, Figure 3. of the shaft 10 is an arm 13 extendinforwardly beneath the table 54. This arm carries at its end a pair ofrollers 14 embracing a bar i5 mounted in end brackets 16 on the tableat.

Journaled within the hollow shaft 70 and at its left end, Figure 3, inthe carriage 58 is a second shaft 11. Mounted on the left-hand end ofthe shaft 1'! is a bracket 18. This bracket is also keyed to the shaftTl so that rocking the bracket will rock the shaft. J ournaled in thebracket 78 is a vertical shaft 19, to the upper end of which the hub ofthe arm 53 is keyed. Accordingly, the arm 63 may swing transversely ofthe frame 28 on the shaft 79 as a pivot, and said shaft will be rockedby such transverse movement. The shaft 19 extends downwardly through thebracket 18 and carries at its lower-end a pulley 3%. In asimilarman'nerthe right-hand end, Figure 3, of the shaft FT-has keyedthereto-a bracket 8'z hav ing journaled therein a vertical shaft 83, tothe upper end of which the hub 84 of the arm 65 is keyed and the lowerend of which extends below the bracket 82 and carries a pulley 85. Thepulleys 8| and 85 are connected by a belt 86. This belt is preferably asteel band crossed between the pulleys 8I and 85 and secured to each ofsaid pulleys against slippage relative thereto. It will be seen that bythese connections transverse swinging movement of the arm 63 will becommunicated through the shaft 19 to the pulley 8! and from said pulley,by way of the belt 86, to the pulley 85 and thereby to the shaft 83 andthe arm 65, causing a corresponding transverse swinging movement of thearm 65. Since the belt 86 is crossed between the pulleys 8I and 85, themovement of the arm 65 will be in reverse relation to that of the arm63.

A link 81 connects the outer ends of the arms 63 and 64, said linkhaving a universal joint, such as a ball and socket joint, at itsconnection to each arm so as to permit universal movement between thelink and the arm. This link causes the arms 63 and 64 to move togetherfor a purpose which will appear presently.

The lift-blank I42 may be mounted as illustrated in Figure 1, whichshows a plan View of what is the upper surface of the blank while being.operated upon, but which, according to the method of this invention,becomes the undersurface when the lift is applied to the shoe. The flatside of the blank may be provided with a suitable finished surface, suchas a facing or sock lining of fabric, leather, or the like, so that whenthe opposite face of the blank has been formed and the same is invertedand placed in a shoe, this surface will be uppermost and will provide afinished surface for the inside of the shoe.

The table or pan 54 is so positioned that the forming tool 68 willoperate within the side flanges thereof, and in order to prevent thecuttings from being scattered about, one or more closure plates II1 maybe placed upon the top edges of said flanges. In order to carry away thecuttings, the lower portion of the pan 54 may be formed into a spout H8into which extends the open upper end of an exhaust pipe II9 connectedto a suction blower I20, which carries off the cuttings for disposal inany suitable manner. The arrangement is such that the pan 54 may riseand fall, as previously described, and still maintain its connectionwith the exhaust pipe I I9.

In the operation of this apparatus, in order to fit a pair of shoes tothe feet of the wearer in 'n accordance with the method of thisinvention, two of the contour devices or models are mounted in thecarrier I8, as shown in Figure 1. This carrier is further provided forcooperation with each of the contour devices with a frame I02 pivoted atI03 on the carrier. The frame is provided at its lower portion with arear heel plate I04 and a side heel plate I05 against which the heel ofthe foot is placed for proper alignment. The side plate I05 is on theinside of the foot. The frame I02 is provided with longitudinal sidebars I06, upon which is slidably mounted a sole plate I01 adapted toprovide a rest for the ball of the foot. The plate I01 is also providedwith a side plate I08 on the inside of the foot. The

plate I01 is preferably provided with an angular edge running about atthe angle of the ball of the foot. This plate depresses the elements 6below it to a given level which is fixed for a given apparatus. This maybe deemed the zero level.

Thefoot is now placed upon the contour device with the inside surfacethereof against the plates I05 and I08 and the heel against the plateI04 with the sole at the ball of the foot resting upon the plate I01.The position of the foot is indicated approximately in dotted lines inFigure l. The operator may first adjust the position of the carrier I8with respect to the subject by rolling it forward or back until thedesired position of the foot with respect to the leg is obtained. Thesubject is then required to put enough pressure on the feet to depressthe elements 6 to a desired level. When the operator is satisfied thatthe feet are in normal position for that subject and for the purpose forwhich the lift is intended, the manipulating elements 26 are pushed intoengagement with the screw heads II and operated so as to cause saidscrews to clamp the elements 6 in the position given them by thepressure of the foot. This may be done for both feet simultaneously, asit is often easier to obtain a normal position of the foot when thesubject places both feet simultaneously upon two separate contourdevices. When these devices have been securely clamped, they are removedone at a time from the carrier I8 and placed in the socket 29 of theapparatus shown in Figure 3.

Each lift-blank is formed separately in the machine illustrated, as willnow be described. One of the contour devices or models, say of the rightfoot, is now placed in the socket 29 on the rails 30 and pushedrearwardly until arrested by the stop 34, as already described. The shoeto be fitted to the right foot is then placed in the shoe holder. Afterthe shoe has been inserted in the holder the follower 66 and the stylus61 are suitably adjusted.

The shoe and the model having been placed in proper relation to eachother, a lift-blank I42 is placed in the holder 51 and adjusted on thetable 54. The operation of the forming tool 68 may now be started bystarting the motor 66. This tool is arranged to cut or otherwise formthe liftblank so as to bring the height of its top surface, as it isplaced in the holder, to a level corresponding to that of the model atthe point where the follower engages the latter. As will be seen fromFigure 3, the operator may now manipulate the stylus 61 so as to passits tip successively over every point of the inside sole surface of theshoe from the ball of the foot clear back to the rear of the heel. In sodoing, the operator may, for instance, start at the ball of the foot andmove the stylus laterally back and forth across the shoe sole. Themovement of the stylus to the ball of the foot pushes the carriage 53rearwardly to a corresponding position which carries with it the arms 63and 65 to corresponding points upon the model and the lift-blank,respectively. The sidewise movement back and forth of the stylus overthe shoe sole causes a corresponding swinging movement of the arms 63and 65 so as to carry them respectively back and forth across the modeland the lift-blank. It will be noted that the arm 63 swings in the samedirection as the arm 64, while the arm 65 moves in reverse relation tothe stylus arm 64. The reason for this is that the blank is placed ininverted position in the blank holder so that its right and left sidesare in reverse relation to those of the shoe. It is in fact the bottomsurface of the lift-blank that is operated upon by the forming tool 68.Accordingly, as the stylus is swung from rightto left across the shoesole, the forming tool moves from left to right across the lift-blank.

As the follower 6B is moved back and forth across the model inaccordance with the operation of the stylus, the difference in elevationof different parts of the model will cause the arm 63 to rise and fall.This up-and-down movement is communicated by the chain of connectionsalready described, including the shaft TI, to the arm 65, which risesand falls in accordance with the rise and fall of the arm 63.Accordingly, the forming tool will operate upon the blank and would formits top surface (as placed in the holder) to a contour like that of themodel but in reverse relation thereto as concerns right and left, ifthere were no vertical movement of the blank.

As the stylus moves over the sole of the shoe it is also subjected to avertical movement in accordance with the difference in level ofdifferent points of the inside sole surface. This up-and down movementof the arm 64 is communicated to the arm I3, which causes the blankholder a to rise and fall accordingly. It will be seen, therefore, thatthe thickness of the lift is formed to the difference between the heightof the model and the height of the inside sole surface of the shoe. Inorder to insure against the table 54 being moved high enough at anypoint so that the cutter 68 will cut clear through the blank, the stopsH5 and H6, on the shafts TI and I0, respectively, are provided.

It will be seen, therefore, that by this operation the lift is formedwith its bottom surface (that is, the surface turned uppermost in theholder) formed to a contour corresponding to that of the sole of thefoot as set up in the model or contour device. At the same time, thelower surface of the blank as it is mounted in the holder is operatedupon in accordance with the contour of the inside sole surface of theshoe. case, however, instead of cutting or forming this lower surface,it is simply raised and lowered so that the entire forming operation isperformed differentially b the forming tool 68, As a result a lift isformed whose thickness at any point is the difference between the heightof the sole of the foot and that of the inside sole of the shoe. Whenthis forming operation has been completed, the blank ma be removed fromthe holder and trimmed in accordance with the shoe size so as to fit theshoe. The lift may now be placed in the shoe with its formed surfacedown against the inside sole of the shoe and may, if desired, beadhesively secured therein. Of course, when the lift has been completedfor one shoe, the other contour device is set in the socket 29 andanother lift formed for the other shoe in the same manner.

In Figures 5 and 6 are shown modified forms of apparatus capable ofcarrying out the general method of this invention in different specificways. In Figure 5 the lift-blank takes the form of a plastic materialI28. This material may be such as to be formable, either by heat or bypressure, and the forming tool may take a suitable form adapted to thepurpose. In Figure 5 the forming tool I2I is illustrated as a heatingtool adapted to form the lift by heat and pressure. This may be providedwith operating means therefor such as a heating coil I22. The operationof forming the lift is the same in this case as has alread beendescribed. The shaping of the lift, however, takes placethermoplastically instead of by a cutting operation.

In Figure 6 the bottom surface of the liftblank as placed in the holderis operated upon by a forming tool instead of simply by being In thisEll raised and lowered. In this case the blank I23 may be suspended inany suitable manner so as to render both upper and lower surfacesthereof accessible to the forming tools. The upper surface may beoperated upon by a cutting tool such as 68 operated by a motor 69, asalready described. In this case, however, an arm I30, corresponding tothe arm I3 described above, carries a forming tool I24 illustrated inFigure 6 as a cutter operated by a motor I25. In this case, also, inplace of the cutter forming tools such as IZI may be employed forforming either or both top and bottom surfaces. 7

Figures 5 and 6 are more or less diagrammatic and are intended toillustrate the method rather than the details of the apparatus in eachcase.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details ofoperation or procedure, within the scope of the appended claims, withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention, and that the invention isnot limited to the specific details shown or described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot in normal position, andforming, from the model and the shoe to be fitted to the foot, asguides, a lift to a thickness at any point thereof corresponding to thedifierence at that point between height of the model and the height ofthe inner sole of the shoe;

2. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot, passing a forming toolover one face of a lift-blank to shape the same, guiding the movement ofthe tool to conform to the shape of the model, and operating on theopposite face of the blank in accordance with the shape of the innersole of theshoe to be fitted to the foot, whereby to form the lift to athickness at any point thereof corresponding. to the difference at thatpoint between the height of the model surface and the height of theinner sole of the shoe.

3. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, passinga pressure-forming tool over one face of a plastic lift-blank to shapethe same, guiding the movement of the tool to conform to the shape ofthe plantar surface of the foot in normal position, operating on theopposite face of the blank in accordance with the shape of the innersole of the shoe to be fitted to the foot, whereby to form the lift to athickness at any point thereof corresponding to the difference at thatpoint between the height of the model surface and the height of theinner sole of the shoe, and treating the formed lift to fix its shape.

4. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot, passing a forming toolover one face of a lift-blank to shape the same, guiding the movement ofthe tool to conform to the shape of the model of the foot in normalposition, passin a second forming .tool over the opposite face of theblank, and guiding the movement of the second tool in accordance withthe shape of the inner sole of the shoe to be fitted to the foot,whereby to form the lift to a thickness at any pointthereof'corresponding to the difference at that point between the heightof the model surface and the height of the inner sole of the shoe. 1

5. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot, passing a heated formingtool over one face of a lift-blank of thermoplastic material to shapethe same, guiding the movement of the tool to conform to the shape ofthe model, and operating on the opposite face of the blank in accordancewith the shape of the inner sole of the shoe to be fitted to the foot,whereby to form the lift to a thickness at any point thereofcorresponding to the difference at that point between the height of themodel surface and the height of the inner sole of the shoe.

6. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot under a substantiallyuniform resilient pressure against said surface adjusted in accordancewith the degree of correction to be applied to the foot, and shaping alift for the shoe in accordance with the model so taken off.

'7. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot under a pressure againstsaid surface adjusted in accordance with the degree of correction to beapplied to; thefoot, and forming a lift for the shoe to a thickness atany point thereof corresponding to the difference at that point betweenthe height of the model so taken off and the height of the inner sole ofthe shoe.

8. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot, forming the bottomsurface of a lift-blank to correspond to the form of the model but inreverse relation thereto, and placing the formed lift in a shoe withsaid bottom surface against the inside sole of the shoe.

9. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot, forming the bottomsurface of a lift-blank to correspond to the form of the model but inreverse relation thereto while simultaneously moving the blank so as toposition its top surface in accordance with the elevation of the innersole of the shoe at the point thereof corresponding to the point beingformed on the bottom surface, and placing the formed lift in the shoewith said bottom surface against the inside sole of the shoe.

10. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot by pressing the foot uponresilient model-forming means with a predetermined uniform pressure,forming a lift to correspond with the model so taken off, and placingthe lift in the shoe to be fitted.

11. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the proc: ess comprising,taking off a model of the plantar surface of the foot by pressing thefoot upon resilient model-forming means with a predetermined uniformpressure while the ball of the foot is supported by a fixed support,forming a lift to correspond with the model so taken off, and placingthe lift in the shoe to be fitted.

12. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surfaces of both feet of a subject bypressing both feet simultaneously upon yieldable model-forming means inorder to position the feet as desired with relation to the legs andankles of the subject, forming one or more lifts to correspond with themodel or models so taken off, and placing the lift or lifts in the shoesto be fitted.

13. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the

process comprising, taking off a model of the surface of the foot,passing a forming tool over one face of a lift-blank to shape the same,and guiding the movement of the tool to conform to the shape of themodel while simultaneously moving the blank so as to position its otherface in accordance with the elevation of the inner sole of the shoe tobe fitted at the point thereof corresponding to the point being formedon the first face so as to apply the height corrections for matchingboth the foot and the shoe differentially to the same face of the blank.I

14. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the surface of the foot, applying a forming tool to oneface of a lift-blank to shape the surface thereof, and varying therelative positions of the tool and the blank in accordance with thedifference between the height of the model surface at any point thereofand the height of the inside sole surface of the shoe to be fitted atthe corresponding point, so as to shape the tooled face of the blank toconform to such difference.

15. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the surface of the foot, applying a forming tool to oneface of a lift-blank to shape the surface thereof, mechanicallyfollowing the variations in height of the respective surfaces of themodel and the inside sole of the shoe at corresponding points of bothsimultaneously, and applying the variations so obtained differentiallyto vary the relative positions of the tool and the blank, so as to shapethe tooled face of the blank to conform to the difference between thecorresponding heights of the model and the shoe sole.

16. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising,preparing a lift-blank with a facing on one face thereof, taking off amodel of the surface of the foot, applying a forming tool to the otherface of the blank to shape the surface thereof, varying the relativepositions of the tool and the blank in inverse relation laterally but inaccordance with the difference between the height of the model surfaceat any point thereof and the height of the inside sole surface of theshoe to be fitted at the corresponding point, so as to shape the tooledface of the blank to conform to such difference, inverting the finishedlift, and placing the inverted lift in the shoe.

17. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot by pressing the foot uponresilient model-forming means with a predetermined pressure, securingthe model-forming means against change so as to retain the footimpression, and forming a lift by operating on a lift blank underguidance of said model.

18. In the art of fitting shoes to feet, the process comprising, takingoff a model of the plantar surface of the foot by pressing the foot uponresilient model-forming means, causing the model-forming means to engagesaid surface under substantially uniform pressure throughout while thefoot is positioned thereon so as to shape the arch, securing themodel-forming means against change so as to retain the foot impression,and forming a lift by operating on a lift blank under guidance of saidmodel.

DANIEL F. I-IYLAND. JOHN C. STILES. HUGO L. BRENNER. JOHN BRENNER.

